Infrared cameras can include an infrared sensor and an infrared lens assembly defining an optical axis. A camera can include an inner gear engaging the infrared lens assembly and a focus ring that engages the inner gear. The inner gear can engage the focus ring and the infrared lens assembly such that rotation of the focus ring about its central axis can cause the rotation of the infrared lens assembly about its optical axis, which may be offset from the central axis of the focus ring. The camera can include a sensor can threadably engaging the infrared lens assembly and fixed relative to the infrared sensor such that rotation of the infrared lens assembly causes the infrared lens assembly to move relative to the infrared sensor. The sensor can can support other components such as a visible light lens assembly or a laser within a perimeter of the focus ring.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An adjustable-focus thermal imaging camera comprising: an infrared sensor configured to receive infrared radiation from a target scene and generate infrared image data of the target scene; an infrared lens assembly comprising at least one lens defining an infrared optical axis, the infrared lens assembly being configured to focus infrared radiation onto the infrared sensor; a visible light sensor configured to receive visible light radiation from a target scene and generate visible light image data representative of the target scene; a visible light lens assembly configured to focus visible light radiation onto the visible light sensor and defining a visible light optical axis, the visible light optical axis being offset from the infrared optical axis such that the visible light optical axis and the infrared optical axis are not coaxial; and a rotatable focus ring for adjusting a focus of the adjustable-focus thermal imaging camera, the rotatable focus ring configured to rotate about a rotational axis and having a gripping surface at a perimeter of the rotatable focus ring located a first distance from the rotational axis, the gripping surface configured for grasping to rotate the rotatable focus ring; the visible light optical axis being offset from the rotational axis of the rotatable focus ring by a second distance such that the visible light optical axis and the rotational axis are not coaxial, the second distance being less than the first distance.
2. The thermal imaging camera of claim 1 , further comprising a torch configured to illuminate a target scene.
3. The thermal imaging camera of claim 1 , further comprising a laser configured to emit light toward a target scene.
4. The thermal imaging camera of claim 3 , wherein the laser defines a laser axis, the laser axis being offset from the rotational axis of the rotatable focus ring by a third distance such that the laser axis and the rotational axis are not coaxial, the third distance being less than the first distance.
5. The thermal imaging camera of claim 4 , wherein the laser is further configured to measure a distance between an object in the target scene and the thermal imaging camera.
6. An adjustable-focus thermal imaging camera comprising: an infrared sensor configured to receive infrared radiation from a target scene and generate infrared image data of the target scene; an infrared lens assembly comprising at least one lens defining an infrared optical axis, the infrared lens assembly being configured to focus infrared radiation onto the infrared sensor; a visible light sensor configured to receive visible light radiation from a target scene and generate visible light image data representative of the target scene; a visible light lens assembly configured to focus visible light radiation onto the visible light sensor and defining a visible light optical axis, the visible light optical axis being offset from the infrared optical axis such that the visible light optical axis and the infrared optical axis are not coaxial; and a rotatable focus ring configured to adjust a focus of the adjustable-focus thermal imaging camera, the rotatable focus ring having a circumference and a central axis, the rotatable focus ring extending longitudinally along the central axis, wherein the infrared optical axis extends longitudinally such that a portion of the infrared optical axis is within the circumference of the rotatable focus ring, and the visible light optical axis extends longitudinally such that a portion of the visible light optical axis is within the circumference of the rotatable focus ring.
7. The thermal imaging camera of claim 6 , further comprising a torch configured to illuminate a target scene.
8. The thermal imaging camera of claim 6 , further comprising a laser configured to emit light toward a target scene.
9. The thermal imaging camera of claim 8 , wherein the laser defines a laser axis, wherein the laser axis extends longitudinally such that a portion of the laser axis is within the circumference of the rotatable focus ring.
10. An adjustable-focus thermal imaging camera comprising: an infrared sensor configured to receive infrared radiation from a target scene and generate infrared image data of the target scene; an infrared lens assembly comprising at least one lens defining an infrared optical axis, the infrared lens assembly being configured to focus infrared radiation onto the infrared sensor; a visible light sensor configured to receive visible light radiation from a target scene and generate visible light image data representative of the target scene; a visible light lens assembly configured to focus visible light radiation onto the visible light sensor and defining a visible light optical axis, the visible light optical axis being offset from the infrared optical axis such that the visible light optical axis and the infrared optical axis are not coaxial; a torch configured to illuminate a target scene, the torch comprising a torch axis; and a rotatable focus ring for adjusting a focus of the adjustable-focus thermal imaging camera, the rotatable focus ring configured to rotate about a rotational axis and having a gripping surface at a perimeter of the rotatable focus ring located a first distance from the rotational axis, the gripping surface configured for grasping to rotate the rotatable focus ring, the visible light optical axis being offset from the rotational axis of the rotatable focus ring by a second distance such that the visible light optical axis and the rotational axis are not coaxial, the second distance being less than the first distance, and the torch axis being offset from the rotational axis of the rotatable focus ring by a third distance such that the torch axis and the rotational axis are not coaxial, the third distance being less than the first distance.
11. The thermal imaging camera of claim 10 , further comprising a second torch configured to illuminate the target scene.
12. The thermal imaging camera of claim 11 , wherein the torch and the second torch are located proximate to the visible light lens assembly.
13. The thermal imaging camera of claim 11 , wherein the torch and the second torch are located proximate to the infrared lens assembly.
14. The thermal imaging camera of claim 11 , wherein the second torch comprises a second torch axis, the second torch axis being offset from the rotational axis of the rotatable focus ring by a fourth distance, such that the second torch axis and the rotational axis are not coaxial, the fourth distance being less than the first distance.
15. The thermal imaging camera of claim 10 , further comprising a laser configured to emit light toward a target scene.
16. The thermal imaging camera of claim 15 , wherein the laser defines a laser axis, the laser axis being offset from the rotational axis of the rotatable focus ring by a fourth distance such that the laser axis and the rotational axis are not coaxial, the fourth distance being less than the first distance.
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December 30, 2019
May 4, 2021
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